Rotatable log bunk



United States Patent 3,350,116 ROTATABLE LOG BUNK Enoch Skirvin, Walter Skirvin, and Paul G. Skirvin, all of Rte. 2, Box 1 M, Philomath, Oreg. 97401 Filed Oct. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 496,261 3 Claims. (Cl. 280-404) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Load carrying apparatus for a mobile vehicle including a trailer and wherein the apparatus comprises a fixed support extending transversely of longitudinally extending trailer support members, the fixed support being provided with a pair of roller supporting opposed ends adjacent the trailer support members, the rollers, in turn, being engaged by shoes rigidly connected to a movable support pivotally connected on the fixed support, and wherein the opposed ends of the movable member are provided, respectively, with an upright stake, the stakes and movable member defining therebetween a log bunk.

This invention relates to log bunks, and more particularly to a rotatably mounted .log bunk including antifriction rollers between the bunk and an underlying support.

Truck-trailer units are generally utilized in the hauling of cut logs from a cutting area to a mill and are usually equipped with a plurality of log bunks laterally supporting the logs to retain them on the trailer. In the hauling of very long logs, the log bunks must be made movable to allow for load shifting or load movement when the unit rounds a curve.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a log bunk which may be rotatably mounted about a vertical axis with respect to the trailer.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a log bunk including revoluble bearing means facilitating the rotation thereof.

A more specific object of the instant invention is to provide a log bunk including a stationary support for securement to a trailer, a movable support rotatably mounted with respect to the stationary support and carrying a pair of laterally spaced upstanding stakes forming a log receiving area.

Another more specific object of the instant invention is to provide a log bunk of the character described having a stationary support and a movable support including revoluble bearing means therebetween.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a trailer equipped with a log bunk having a rotatably mounted movable support juxtaposed to at least one revolubly mounted load supporting bearing.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention, as well as the invention itself, reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction and operation, all as will be pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the log bunk of the instant invention attached to an underlying trailer, the load supporting beams thereof being illustrated in dashed lines;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIGURE 1 as may be seen from along line 2-2 viewing in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view as may be seen from along line 33 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the strung through a rung 3,350,116 Patented Oct. 31, 1967 device of FIGURE 3 taken substantially along line 4-4 thereof illustrating the revoluble bearing means of the instant invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, there is indicated generally at 10 a log bunk having as its major components a stationary support shown generally at 12, a movable support designated generally at 14 carrying a pair of upstanding laterally spaced stakes 16 forming a log receiving area denominated generally at 18, a mounting means shown generally at 20 rotatably mounting movable support 14 with respect to stationary support 12 with a plurality of bearing means indicated generally at 22 positioned be tween movable support 14 and stationary support 12 in lead carrying relation.

As will be explained more fully hereinafter, a plurality of logs will be positioned within log receiving area 18 carried by movable support 14 on an underlying trucktrailer unit to which stationary support 12 is fixedly secured as is more fully pointed out in the concurrently filed application Ser. No. 496,260, filed Oct. 15, 1965, and entitled Log Bunk. When a truck-trailer unit equipped with the log bunk of the instant invention rounds a curve, the longitudinal axis of the truck-trailer unit may move relative to the longitudinal axis of the logs carried thereby allowing for increased safety and maneuverability of the vehicle.

Stationary support 12 is illustrated as including a central platform 24 from which extend in each direction a pair of spaced apart beams 26 forming a sloping indentation 28 therebetween for purposes more fully explained hereinafter. Disposed on each side of central platform 24 and secured to beams 26 in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of an underlying trailer is a U- shaped connector 30 which is secured to a channel supporting member 32 of an underlying trailer by a plurality of frictional fasteners 34, such as rivets, bolts or the like. It will be seen, therefore, that stationary support 12 is positioned crosswise or transverse to the longitudinal axis of the underlying trailer.

Movable support 14 includes a beam 36, which is illustrated as a box beam for purposes of structural rigidity, extending substantially beyond the terminal ends of stationary support 12. Box beam 36 is illustrated as having an upper portion 38 of reduced width, but it should be understood that beam 36 may be of any suitable configuration providing structural rigidity. A cleat 40 extends along the longitudinal axis of movable support 14 and is preferably provided with a sharp edge for indenting into the bark of a log placed within receiving area 18 providing for the stability of such logs.

Pivotally mounting bunk stakes 16 on the terminal ends of beam 36 is a pair of pivot pins 42 with a pair of spaced apart arms 44 positioned around box beam 36 receiving pin 42. It should be apparent that bunk stakes 16 are substantially precluded from pivotal movement toward the center of movable support 14 and are restrained against outward pivotal movement by a pair of cable restraining means designated generally at 46.

Each of cable restraining means 46 includes an elongate cable 48 wrapped about bunk stake 16 intermediate the height thereof and restrained against downward movement therealong by a hook-shaped member 50 as may be seen in FIGURES 1 and 3. Both ends of each cable 48 are 52 on movable support 14 such that the inner portion of cable 48 is substantially parallel to beam 36 with the outer portion thereof being upwardly inclined. One end of each cable 48 is fastened to a bolt 54 received in a pair of aligned apertures in parallel horizontal plates 56 with the other end of cables 48 preferably being equipped with a suitable cable tightening mechanism in a known manner. By providing a plurality of laterally spaced apertures in plates 56, as is shown in the concurrently filed application entitled Log Bunk, it will be seen that the outward pivotal movement of stakes 16 14. Preventing separation of movable support 14 and sta-- tionary support 12 is a connector 66 receiving pin 60 in a known manner.

It will be apparent that the attachment of a pair of log bunks to an underlying vehicle will allow the vehicle to turn a corner with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the longitudinal axis of the logs loaded within receiving area 18 moving relative to each other in a horizontal plane. Since logging trailers are often made with a horizontal pivot connection between front and rear log bunks, it will be seen that maneuvering a long log truck-trailer unit is greatly facilitated.

In the construction hereinbefore described, the load of the logs positioned within receiving area 18 must be borne by the inner face of plate 62 and base 58 of mounting means 20. Because of the large forces which tend to bind plate 62 and base 58, rotation of movable support 40 is greatly hindered. To facilitate rotation of movable support 14 and to accommodate a portion of the load there on, hearing means 22 are provided between the axis of pin 60 and the terminal ends of beam 36.

Bearing means 22 includes a guide plate indicated generally at 68 positioned on each side of mounting means 20 providing a substantially straight planar shoe 70 secured to beam 36 by a pair of angled supports 72. As may be seen most clearly in FIGURE 3, shoe 70 includes upturned ends 74 for purposes more fully explained hereinafter.

Bearing means 22 also includes an arcuate track 76, the radius of curvature of which corresponds to the axis of rotation of movable support 14, fixedly secured adjacent the ends of beams 26 of stationary support 12. As may be seen in FIGURE 4, arcuate track 76 forms a cutout 78 overlying indentation 28 of stationary support 12. Revolubly mounted in cutout 78 are a pair of bearings 80 which are illustrated as substantially cylindrical bearings rotatably mounted in cutout 78, but which may be bearings of any suitable type. In order to provide rotatable movement between guide plate 68 and arcuate track 76 in the most efficient manner possible, the axis of rotation of bearings 80 lies upon a radial line extending from pin 60.

It will be seen that hearing means 20 not only accommodates a portion of the load of logs positioned within receiving area 18, but also facilitates the rotation of movable support 14 with respect to stationary support 12.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved log bunk having all the objects of this invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In combination with a trailer vehicle including elongated supporting members extending longitudinally thereof and in the general direction of travel, a log bunk, said log bunk comprising an upwardly opening elongated U- shaped connector fixedly secured, respectively, on each of said supporting members and extending in the direction of their elongation, an elongated stationary support member extending transversely of said supporting members, said support member including a central platform disposed between said supporting members and having opposed sides from which project, respectively, a pair of laterally spaced beams, each of said pair of beams diverging away from one another and being fixedly connected on said U- shaped connectors, an elongated movable support extending generally transversely of said connectors, pivot means connecting said movable support centrally of its ends on said stationary support, roller means supported on and between each of said pair of beams at the remotely disposed ends thereof, said roller means being rotatable about normally horizontal axes disposed on radii of said pivotal connecting means, an elongated substantially rectangular planar shoe fixedly connected on and depending from, respectively, each end of said movable support to frictionally engage and support said movable support on said rollers, and an upstanding elongated stake fixedly connected, respectively, to each end of said movable support.

2. In the combination of claim 1 wherein said shoes are each provided with opposed upturned ends.

3. In the combination of chain 2 and a substantially upright circular base fixedly secured on said stationary support, said base having a planar upper surface, an elongated circular plate rigidly connected to the underside of said movable member and engaging said planar upper surface, and pivotal connecting means comprising a pivot pin connected on said circular base and projecting upwardly away from its said planar surface and transversely through said movable support.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,027,959 4/ 1962 Mailliard 280404 X FOREIGN PATENTS 83,541 4/1921 Austria.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A TRAILER VEHICLE INCLUDING ELONGATED SUPPORTING MEMBERS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF AND IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, A LOG BUNK, SAID LOG BUNK COMPRISING AN UPWARDLY OPENING ELONGATED USHAPED CONNECTOR FIXEDLY SECURED, RESPECTIVELY, ON EACH OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS AND EXTENDING IN THE DIRECTION OF THEIR ELONGATION, AN ELONGATED STATIONARY SUPPORT MEMBER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER INCLUDING A CENTRAL PLATFORM DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS AND HAVING OPPOSED SIDES FROM WHICH PROJECT, RESPECTIVELY, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED BEAMS, EACH OF SAID PAIR OF BEAM DIVERGING AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER AND BEING FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID USHAPED CONNECTORS, ON ELONGATED MOVABLE SUPPORT EXTENDING GENERALLY TRANSVERSELY OF SAID CONNECTORS, PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING SAID MOVABLE SUPPORT CENTRALLY OF ITS ENDS ON SAID STATIONARY SUPPORT, ROLLER MEANS SUPPORTED ON AND BETWEEN EACH OF SAID PAIR OF BEAMS AT THE REMOTELY DISPOSED ENDS THEREOF, SAID ROLLER MEANS BEING ROTATABLE ABOUT NORMALLY HORIZONTAL AXES DISPOSED ON RADII OF SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTING MEANS, AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR PLANAR SHOES FIXEDLY CONNECTED ON AND DEPENDING FROM, RESPECTIVELY, EACH END OF SAID MOVABLE SUPPORT TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE AND SUPPORT SAID MOVABLE SUPPORT ON SAID ROLLERS, AND AN UPSTANDING ELONGATED STAKE FIXEDLY CONNECTED, RESPECTIVELY, TO EACH END OF SAID MOVABLE SUPPORT. 